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# Polish region votes to remain ‘LGBTQ+ free’
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/polish-region-votes-to-remain-lgbtq-free/
- Published: 2021-08-24T08:36:21.000Z
- Updated: 2021-08-23T15:36:44.000Z
- Description: The council of Malopolska has voted to remain an LGBTQ+ free zone despite threats from the EU to cut billions worth of funding.
- Author: Rachel Badham
- Tags: News, Politics, Eu, European Charter of Fundamental Rights, LGBTQ, LGBTQ+ free zones Poland, Poland

The council of Malopolska, a southern region in Poland that is home to over 3.4 million citizens, has voted to remain an LGBTQ+ free zone despite threats from the EU to cut billions worth of funding. After initially pledging to oppose ‘all acts of tolerance’ towards the LGBTQ+ community in 2019, councillors voted last Thursday to keep these regulations in place according to the [Independent](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/lgbt-eu-law-discriminations-poland-b1905903.html?ref=scenemag.co.uk).

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/poland-lgbt-free-zones-1.jpg)

LGBTQ+ free zones in Poland

After the vote, the European Commission sent a letter to the council, requesting that the region’s anti-LGBTQ+ policies be revoked by September to secure €2.5bn in EU funding. Malopolska’s neighbouring region, [Podkarpackie](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/lgbtq-free-polish-zone-loses-e1-7m-in-funding/), has already lost €1.7m in European Heritage funding for declaring itself an LGBTQ+ free zone. [Six towns](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/eu-denies-funding-for-lgbtq-free-polish-towns/) have also been denied EU funding for town twinning, as their anti-LGBTQ+ policies breach the EU value of equality for all.

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/polandlgbt600400.png)

In response to international concern over the rising number of LGBTQ+ free zones in Poland, the European Union [added a new clause](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/eu-could-withdraw-polish-funding/) to its funding rules earlier this year, meaning the country could face further financial restrictions if it continues to attack the country’s LGBTQ+ community. The new regulations mean EU countries must show respect for the European Charter of Fundamental Rights, so which refuse to adhere to the principles of gender equality and anti-discrimination could see their projects rejected for EU funding.